Nigeria has recorded its first tele-robotic surgery, with a surgeon in Ogun State remotely operating on a patient about 500 kilometres away in Abuja.
The procedure, a robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy to remove a cancerous kidney tumour, was performed by Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV) in collaboration with RoboMed Global.
Professor Ekwenna Davis, Co-founder of RoboMed Global and Professor of Urology and Transplantation, performed the surgery in real time from a Toumai robotic console at RHV in Mowe, Ogun State, while the patient was at Nisa Premier Hospital in Abuja.
The operation lasted approximately three hours and relied on Starlink connectivity, with MTN providing backup connectivity to help maintain uninterrupted communication between the surgeon and the robotic system.
Prof. Davis described the procedure as a pilot demonstrating how technology could expand access to specialised surgical care in Nigeria.
“The procedure we did was a telesurgery procedure where we were able to operate on a patient in Abuja, 500 kilometres away,” he said.
“This is just the beginning. It is a test, a pilot, of how innovation and technology can really help patients,” he added.
According to Prof. Davis, the technology could enable Nigerians to access specialised surgical expertise without travelling abroad, while also creating opportunities for Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora to provide specialist support remotely.
Connectivity remains a challenge
Despite the potential of tele-robotic surgery, Prof. Davis noted that connectivity disruptions and weather conditions could present challenges to the technology.
He stressed the importance of reliable infrastructure and adequate safeguards to ensure the safety and effectiveness of remote surgical procedures.
The development also raises questions about the reliability of the communications infrastructure required to support procedures in which delays or interruptions could have serious consequences.
Robot remains under human control
RHV Board Chairman, Dr Kunle Onakoya, clarified that the robotic system does not perform surgery independently.
“The robot is still being controlled by a human being, by a very experienced and senior surgeon. It is just that the skills of that surgeon are now being magnified many times over by the robot,” he said.
The successful procedure marks a significant step in the application of remote surgical technology in Nigeria and highlights the potential for telecommunications and robotic systems to connect specialised medical expertise with patients across geographical distances.
Leave a Reply